Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ATX Review

Up Close: Exterior Overview and Front I/O

Measuring 495x263x510mm (HxWxD), the Enthoo Evolve ATX is reasonably compact by ATX standards, especially when you consider it's able to take the larger E-ATX motherboards, well, those up to 264mm wide at any rate, but every little helps as they say. For those not enamoured by the Gun Metal case we have for review today, the Evolve ATX does also come in a more classic satin Black finish. Both cases have a pretty much full size window but strangely have a raised cut out that covers over the part of the false floor that reveals the PSU mounting area. Now in previous reviews we've waxed lyrical about how we're not sure the PSU warrants it's own window on the world, and how it can't be guaranteed that the graphics on your PSU will line up with the false floor cut out, and it seems Phanteks may have taken a bit of this on board and decided to block the revealed PSU area from view. Either that, or they just didn't think it through properly. Well whatever the reason, we have to say we are more than a little smitten by the aesthetic of the Enthoo Evolv ATX. So much so that it has our modders sense all tingly.

The roof is all clean and tidy, with just a hint of ventilation running down either side. Don't go thinking that that this will be a major problem though, as we'll see later, Phanteks have added a little more cooling than is immediately obvious. The only interruption to the aesthetic simplicity is the placement of a single power button toward the front edge of the roof. The rest of the front I/O being hidden behind a flip down panel tucked away under the roof lip.

Flipping the soft action lip up reveals a compact front I/O consisting of a brace of USB 3.0s and the usual audio inputs. Thankfully the days of cases bristling with 4-6 USB ports are a think of the past.

Hmmm... Very nice; but that price. The M-ATX version is £50 cheaper It is a larger case, granted; but M-ATX is more niche. Given they share so much DNA, this is jarring. They should by either similarly good value or similarly expensive. The arguments for the price of one would seem to invalidate the arguments for the price of the other. On top of this, a comparison of US prices for the two shows the ATX version about £15 pounds more expensive in the UK than I would expect. That looks like retailer cheek. Is the quality of the two chassis not comparable? Unless I am missing something, good though this is, I think I would be being ripped off twice otherwise if I bought one.Quote

I think the article is definitely correct in comparing this to the function of the Pro-M. I've got the Evolv mATX, and it seems the ATX version fixed all of the issues I have with the mATX. A lot more detachable features such as those nice drive platforms and huzzah, a much larger cut-out removable panel in the front of the false floor. The mATX variant has very tight tolerances there (nothing a few minutes with the cut-off wheel won't sort out) such that some 120mm/240mm rads won't fit, much less the 280mm rad that should be accommodated. I think it would bear noting that the ATX case is only 45mm taller than the mATX model, it's a ridiculously small amount for the increase in capabilities (pricing aside).

Is the front of the ATX version in the roof really free flowing? The mATX case has a plate behind some fins that stops air from moving forward and inevitably back into the intake fans; sensible but when things get toasty as this summer they definitely have, my case fans are screaming if I leave the roof on, definitely some restriction.

The offset looks much better in the ATX box in the roof, having a z97 gryphon in the mATX, the average sized vrm heatsink puts a stop to anything over a 35mm thick 280mm rad. I definitely love the amount of fan mounting slots they have included, you can easily shift fans and rads around in place to get the best final placement, just like those long slots on that rear 140mm fan mount, so much room to allow for tall things in the roof.

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